THEY are priced at £80,000 the pair but, for the people who made them, it was the most 'horrendous' task ever.

The china vases are 3ft 3ins tall and contain around 75 flowers and 50 leaf sprays.

They took master craftsman David Fryer and co-workers 1,400 hours.

"I do not think that, in the world of china, this has ever been attempted before," said David.

"And I do not think anyone in their right mind will try it again." He works from a studio at Welsh Newton Common specialising in the top end of the market.

A former designer for Boehm and then head designer for the ornamental section of Royal Worcester Porcelain, David started his own business 20 years ago, concentrating on animals, birds and flowers.

The project, he says, was very much at the top end of the craft and confesses that it really was too much.

But once started he and his companions had to continue. Now he admits it was the 'most horrendous' job ever.

Among the flowers are roses, camelias, lupins, clematis, irises, daisies, agapanthias, peonies and dahlias.

The vases are going to London, to the shelves of Thomas Goode in South Audley Street with a price tag of £80,000.